DIY CO2: I almost killed all my fish

by **Peterkarig3210** » Thu Sep 04, 2008 10:07 pm

I just mixed up a batch of yeast, sugar, and water and it didn't get going over night, so I added more yeast and went to lunch. When I got back all the fish were franticly gulping at the surface and the pH reading is way in the acid range off the chart. When I added drops it turned yellow even before shaking the test tube.

I took the co2 line off the filter intake and just put an air stone on it and it's bubbling pure co2 like it's hooked to a pump. Bubbles are comming out all over the air stone and it's making a bubbling sound too. I bet the sugar gets used up really quick this time and I'll have to make another batch tomorrow.

The shrimp look drunk and keep swimming upside down. I'm glad I caught it before everything died. I haven't seen the dojo yet.

by **Peterkarig3210** » Thu Sep 04, 2008 10:26 pm

Damn. I just took out the co2 altogether as the shrimp seem to be getting worse. They're upside down and almost paralised.

by **jweb1369** » Thu Sep 04, 2008 10:36 pm

They are basically breathing used air. Like making them pass out. The equivalent of you breathing in a bag all day. They aren't getting enough oxygen to their brain and it might cause permanent problems. Hopefully not though.

by **Peterkarig3210** » Thu Sep 04, 2008 10:43 pm

Well. 5 minutes after removing the co2 and stirring up the water by cleaning the glass and the shrimp are acting normal again. Most of the fish are still at the surface and I still have a 6.0 pH or less. I hope the ottos and dojo are OK.

Yea, I'm a respiratory therapist and co2 is a big thing in my work.

by **Zambize4899** » Thu Sep 04, 2008 10:45 pm

Did you try pure oxygen with little tiny face masks?

by **Peterkarig3210** » Thu Sep 04, 2008 10:47 pm

Hahahah. Hope I don't have to intubate. I did take a shrimp out and blew on it for a while. The pH must have been way low. I'll test it again.

by **Peterkarig3210** » Thu Sep 04, 2008 10:47 pm

Still below 6.0

by **a1k8t31524** » Thu Sep 04, 2008 10:52 pm

holy shit man did you get like muntant yeast or something. Ith is hard to believe that you would get that much c02 out of i little gallon jug. do you have a check valve hooked up to your Co2 line?

by **Peterkarig3210** » Thu Sep 04, 2008 11:04 pm

Nope. I just ran it into the canister filter intake. I think 1 teaspoon is the amount of yeast needed. I think I used 1 1/2 small pouches. The pH is still off the chart low. Oops.

I want my own emergency kit with o2, masks, ambu bag, defibrulator, epi shots, deep wound care stuff, etc. I love trauma.

by **Peterkarig3210** » Thu Sep 04, 2008 11:24 pm

My red lotus liily pads are dissolving. There are all these holes and then the pad just falls apart. The regular leaves are OK. I wonder if it's the carbonic acid from the co2?

The fish are starting to act normally and I got the powerhead blasting air through the venturi so I am going to return the co2 line but just with an air stone. It's crazy how many bubbles are comming out. I can hear it through the glass and it looks like I have it hooked to an air pump.

DIY CO2: I almost killed all my fish

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